Chapter 4 computer software- MIS- MBA-1st Trimester- MBS

1. Chapter - 4
Computer Software

2. Software
• Software are programs that are used to
operate and manipulate computers and their
peripheral devices
• A set of instruction code that are executed by
the system processor
• Application software and System software

3. Types of Application & System Software

4. Application Software
• General Purpose
– Programs that perform common information
processing jobs for end users
– E.g., word processing, spreadsheet
– Also call productivity packages
– Virtual owner owns intellectual property rights

5. • Custom Software
– Software applications developed within an
organization for use by that organization
– Organization who develops it also uses it
– Changes big or small, occur at any time
– Have full control
– Access to the coding and documentation
Application Software

6. • Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS)
– Many copies sold
– Minimal changes beyond scheduled upgrades
– Purchasers have no control over specifications,
schedule, or evolution, and no access to source
code or internal documentation
– Product vendor retains the intellectual property
rights of the software
Application Software

7. • Open-source Software
– Developers collaborate on the development of an
application using programming standards which
allow anyone to contribute to the software
– As each developer completes a project, the
application code becomes available and free to
anyone who wants it
Application Software

8. • Function-Specific Application Software
Business Application software / Application specific programs
– Thousands of these packages support specific
applications of end users, especially in businesses
– Business application software supports the
reengineering and automation of business processes
with strategic e-business applications
– Examples: customer relationship management,
enterprise resource planning, supply chain
management, Web-enabled electronic commerce ,
data mining tools, enterprise information portals, KMS
Application Software

9. Software Suites, Integrated Packages
• Most widely used productivity packages are
bundled together as software suites
• Advantages
Cost less than buying individual packages
All have similar GUI
Work well together
• Disadvantages
All features not used
Takes a lot of disk space (bloatware)
Application Software

10. 4-10
Presentation Graphics
• Common presentation graphics packages…
– Converts numeric data into graphics displays
– Used to create multimedia presentations of
graphics, photos, animation, and video clips
– E.g., Microsoft PowerPoint, Lotus Freelance, Corel
Presentations
– Top packages can tailor files for transfer in HTML
format to websites

11. 4-11
Personal Information Managers
• Software for end user productivity and
collaboration
– Stores information about clients
– Manages schedules, appointments, tasks
– Most include ability to access the Web and
provide e-mail capabilities
– Some support team collaboration by sharing
information with other PIM users
– E.g., Lotus Organizer, Microsoft Outlook

12. 4-12
Groupware
• Software that helps workgroups collaborate
on group assignments
– E-mail, discussion groups, databases, video
conferencing
– E.g., Lotus Notes, Novell GroupWise, Microsoft
Exchange
– Windows SharePoint Services and WebSphere
both allow teams to create websites for
information sharing and document collaboration

13. 4-13
Software Alternatives
• Outsourcing development and maintenance of
software
• Application service providers (ASPs)
– Companies that own, operate, and maintain
application software and computer system
resources
– Use the application for a fee over the Internet
– Pay-as-you-go
– Use expected to accelerate in the coming years

14. System Software
• System software are the programs that
manage and support a computer system and
its information processing activities
• 2 Types of system software
– System Management Programs
• The programs that manage the hardware,
software, network and data resources of computer
systems during the execution of various
information processing jobs of users
• Ex. OS, DBMS, Network Mgmt Sys, System Utilities

15. System Software
• 2 Types of system software
– System Development Programs
• Programs that help user to develop information
processing programs and procedures and prepare user
programs for computer processing.
• Ex. Programing language translators and editors, CASE

16. System Software
Operating System
• Integrated system of programs that
– Manages the operation of CPU
– Controls Input/Output, Storage resources and activities of
computer system
– Provides various support services as the computer
executes the application programs of users
• Helping access a network, entering data, saving and retrieving
files, printing and displaying output
• Primary purpose of OS is to maximize the productivity
of a computer system by operating it in the most
efficient manner
• OS tries to minimize the human intervention required
during processing
• Most indispensable component of the software
interface between users and the hardware

17. Interface Between End Users and Computer

18. Operating System Basic Functions

19. 1. User Interface
• The part of the operating system that allows you to
communicate with it
• Three main types: Command-driven, Menu-driven, GUI
2. Resource Management
• Part of the operating system that manages the hardware and
networking resources of a computer system
– Includes CPU, memory, secondary storage devices,
telecommunications, and input/output peripherals
– Keeping track of where data and programs are stored
– Subdividing memory; providing virtual memory capability
Operating System Basic Functions

20. 3. File Management
• Part of the operating system that controls the creation,
deletion, and access of files and programs
– Keeps track of physical location on storage devices
– Maintains directories of information about the location and
characteristics of stored files
4. Task Management
• Part of the operating system that manages the
accomplishment of end user computing tasks
– Controls which task gets access to the CPU,
and for how long
– Can interrupt the CPU at any time to substitute
a higher priority task
– Supports preemptive and cooperative multi-tasking and multi-
processing
Operating System Basic Functions

21. Other system management programs
• Utilities
– Miscellaneous housekeeping functions
– Example: Norton utilities includes data backup,
virus protection, data compression, etc.
• Performance Monitors
– Programs that monitor and adjust computer
system to keep them running efficiently
• Security Monitors
– Monitor and control use of computer systems
to prevent unauthorized use of resources

22. Middleware
• Application Servers provide an interface
between an operating system and the
application programs of users
• Middleware
– Software that helps diverse software applications
exchange data and work together more efficiently
– Web